Vertically adjustable trailer



Aug. 15, 1950 E.,|.. SIEMEN 4 mL 2,519,002

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TRAILER Filed Oct. 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sht 2 FIG. 7.

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Patented Aug. 15 1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE 2 2,5I9,0021 V V V VERTICALLY'ADJUS' ITABLE TRAILER 4 Everett. L, S temen, Francis. L. Enslen, and'Omau Springer, Elidax, Ohio; said Stemenrassignor to said Enslenraml said Springer Application October 26, 1948;, Serial No. 561,522

2 Claims.

This invention relates to load-lifting devices for tractor traiirs, and particularly to a trailer lift and an adjustable hitch cooperating there- With.

The main ebject'cf our invention is to provide a tractor trailer with ltaddiitina means includ ing an elevating platform for conveniently elevatinga load from initial low position-to a raised transporting position occupied bythe load when the-- trailer is being drawn by the tractor fcr "transporting the load-I Another object is to provide-a trailer with a lift as indicated whichis raised in level or her-i aontal-condition' while'thetrailer remains hitched the tractor. l r 7 A further object is to combinean adjustableor tilting hitchmeans with the lift for the trailerto facilitate loading the liftplatform on thelatter hy allow-ing the-platform to occupy an initial low loading' position. 1 r It is alsoan object to providedistinct means for raisingthe liit platform and forcorr'espond'i-ngl-y "adjusting the relative "position of theadjustable in lcooperation therewith.

Apracticall objectis, of course; te-providesuch a -combined trailer lift and adjustable'hitch in durable and simple; as well as effective form.

" Other objects and advantages or our invention will appear in ifurther detail as "the specification proceeds;

" In order to facilitate'ready comprehension of -tl'iis invention for a proper appreciation of" the salientfeatures-thereof, theinvention is illustrat'ed on the accompanying: drawings forming parthereoff, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side-elevation of'a load-carrying trailer provided with a lift platform capable of being raised and lowered accordin to certain fatures of the invention; 7 I Figuretzis a plan view ot thesa'me load-carrying trailer shown in- Figure 1' with portions shown insection todisclose structural detail;

Figure 3 is a sec-tion taken 'online-3-3' in Figure 2;

- Figure 41s a vertical sectionitaken'on line ll-4r 25 Figure'S is -a fragmentary plan view of thead- J' ustable hitch of Figure 7' in partial section, as indicated on line8-8 in Figure '7 Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9--9in Figure 10 isa section taken on line III- W in Figure 8 Figure 11 is amodification ofthe load-carrying? trailer-and lift of Figures'" 1, 2 and 3, showing the elevating platform thereof in its lowered initial position for loading;

Figure 1 2 is another side elevation of the same modification of-Figure 11, showing the lift platforminraised transportingposition.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

Load-carryingtrailersare frequently hitched totractersfor transporting farm implements, tools and-even farm machinery, as well as other loads; which are often heavy and unwieldy and certainly too heavy and inconvenient for a man to lift and put upon the trailer. Of course, varions ejxpedientsfor'loadingand unloading such a trailer, have been resorted to, but nothing uniform and effective has been generally adopted for'thi'spurpose. I V

Upon considering this'problem, it has occurred to us that a tractor trailer should be available which would not only have an elevating platform capable of being loweredto'receivea load and then elevated to raise the load to a pr0perp0sition for transportation, but should also be cor}- -nected to the trailei-"by means of an adjustable hitch whichwill allow the lift platform t'o'occup'y a horizontalpositionwhether-in lowered orjelevated' condition. As a result, We have found. it

quitefeasib'le to produce a special trailer for attachment to a-tractor'as aboveoutlined'which we shall now proceed to describe;

members H, [8 upon: which are secured a series 45-- of transverse platform boarded-9, 19' by screws, bolts; or; anyother means known in the art, the rear end Z0' '0f this platform being inclined-to facilitate pulling various articlesup on the'p'latform" when thelatter is in its initial loweredposition. At the forwarden'd' the side channel members I 8 and I1 are-preferably-weided to-atransverse channel member 2! when the latter is provided upon the ends of the forward side thereof with two pairs of lugs 22 22', while upon 75 5 the intermediate'portion of the 'front sideof said channel member 2| are a pair of additional lugs 23, 23. Through each of the two pairs of lugs 22, 22 extends a bolt or pivot pin 24 retained in position by a cotter pin 25, while through the two intermediate lugs 23, 23 extends a further pivot pin 26 best seen in Figure 10. The mentioned intermediate lugs 23, 23 extend upwardly and have a further pivot'pin 21 extending therethrough above the perviously-mentioned pin 26 being retained in position by a cotter pin 28.

The purposes served by the mentioned pins 24,

26 and 21 will presently be explained.

Upon each side of the platform |6 are a pair of supporting Wheels 29, 36, 3|, 32 for supporting the platform through a pair of special toggle arrangements connected to a transverse shaft 33 intermediate the two resulting pairs of forward and rear wheels 36, 32 and 29, 3|, this shaft extending through the intermediate portions of the side channels l1, I8 of the platform, so that the latter is virtually suspended on said shaft. Mounted upon the ends of shaft 33 are a pair of arms 34, 35, 36, 31, a bushing 38 extending through the overlapping inner ends of the two arms 34, 35 and a similar bushing 39 extending through the overlapping adjacent ends of the other two arms 36 and 31, while two pins 40, 4|

.extend through the ends of the shaft to retain the bushings rotatably upon the latter and prevent displacement thereof, the arms in each case being preferably rotatable upon the mentioned bushing upon which it is mounted. In the outer ends of arms 34 and 35 are fixed a pair of wheel studs or wheel mountings 42, 43, and upon each one of these wheel studs is mounted a rotatable wheel center 44 secured to the disc 45 of wheel 30, for example, the other three wheels 29 and 3| and 32 being similarly mounted upon the ends of the arms 34, 36 and 31, respectively.

- vAs best seen in Figure 3, the arms 36 and 31 -are provided at their outer ends with wheel studs 46 and 41 similar to the Wheel studs or short axles 42 and 43 just mentioned, while upon the upper portions of the same ends of said arms 36 and 31 are fixed upwardly-extending smaller arms 48, 46. Thus far described, it is evident that platform I6 is suspended from the wheels 29, 36 on one side and 3| and 32 on the other side by means of arms 34, 35 at one end of shaft 33-and arms 36 and 31 at the other end-of the same shaft.

53 having a plate 55 depending therefrom virtually forming a ring surrounding cylinder 54 slidably in such fashion as to retain the channel member 53 in alignment with :both piston and cylinder. The closed end 56 of hydraulic cylinder 54 has a projecting lug 51 pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 58 to the upper end of rigid small arm 48, while to the interior of cylinder 54 isconnected hydraulic hose or fiexible pipe 59 which in turn-is connected to a fixture upon a manually-operated hydraulic pump, or if desired, to a. mechanically-driven hydraulic pump (not shown).

The arrangement is such that if pressure fluid enters chamber 60 in hydraulic cylinder 54 from flexible tube or pipe 59, piston 50 will be forced gradually out of the cylinder in such fashion as to separate cylinder and-piston to a limited de- 4 gree which in turn forces pivot pin and 53 and arms 48 and 49 apart, and thereby straightens supporting arms 36 and 31 into alignment from the position shown in Figure 3 to substantially that shown in Figure l, which automatically raises shaft 33 and platform l6 supported thereon. In order to determine a final raised position, each outer arm 34 or 36, as the case may be, is provided with a stop lug 6|,

while the other corresponding arm 35 or 31 terminates in a projecting stop lug or nose 62 preventing over operation or raising of shaft 33 beyond a position in which the arms 36 and 31 on one side, as well as arms 34 and 35 on the of the latter.

other side, are substantially in alignment.

It has already been mentioned that the arms 34 and are rotatable upon the bushing 38, but if preferred, this bushing may :be rigid with arm 35 and only the inner adjacent end of arm 34 rotatable thereo nand retained in position within cotter pin 46 by means of a washer 63 and similarly on the other side another washer 63 which serves the same purpose. v

While the connections between arms 36 and 31 and piston 56 with cylinder 54 have been described in detail, it is self-evident that a corresponding pair of short arms 64, 65 may be fixed upon the outer ends of arms 34 and 35 and connected to piston 66 and cylinder 61, respectively. A canopy or inverted protecting channel member 68 is connected to piston 66 and cylinder 61 also provided with a hydraulic flexible tube or pipe similar to'59, and both tubes are connected together to be controlled simultaneously in order to operate both pairs of arms 34 and 35 on one side and 36 and 31 on the other side in synchronism. When the two pairs of arms are thus simultaneously operated, platform I6 is raised from the initial low position illustrated in Figure 3 for loading to the raised position illustrated in Figure 'l,'which is the normal transporting position in which the loadis supported at its efficient height above the road to avoid any inequalities of the latter or when running through fields all inequalities of the ground, shrubs and the like, are avoided by passing beneath the platform and between the wheels on both sides.

For connecting the hydraulic lines or hose members 59 to the hydraulic cylinders 54 and '61, it is preferred to use quick-connecting and disconnecting fittings represented by 59', so that it will be possible to disconnect either or both lines from the-cylinders without delay or difficulty and also remove either or both sets of wheels at either side of lift platform |6 by removing pin and washer 63 from spindle 33 to release arms '36 and 31 from the latter. The temporaryremoval of these arms naturally includes removal of wheels 29 and ,30 therewith, which allows loading; of any object upon the platformfrornthe side whenrsuch object is too wide for 'loading on the platform from the end 20 Obviously, when this wide-object is located on the platform, arms 36 and 31 carrying wheels 29 and 30 are then replaced with washer 63 and pin 49 upon spindle'33, and hy- -"raulic line 53 also'snapp'ed into conection with In order to cooperate with the lift apparatus just described, the hitch bar 69, as best seen'in Figures 7 and 8, isconnected at the rear end thereof by means of previously-described pin 26 76 between lugs 23 on the front end 2| of platform .19: by means of previously-mentioned pin 21: to

, feed screw resting rotatably upon the lower toggle lie at the forward and tnishitcii bar; which is preferably achannel member, has-- a panf joi army-extendinglugs 1ft adapted be 'tt hedto a rear end hitch ringerloop I2 by means- 0f a hitch pin 13 extending down through ;li'igs'-10 and It, as well as ring orloop 12-.- This member I2 is pivotally connected by means of a transverse or horizontal pin- T3- to 'tlie rear end fixeel hitch member 19 of a tractor for-the pur ose of transporting the trader l-tal'readydescribed by means of hitch bar-6'9 the forward portion of the inentioned fii-teh bai' 59 extend a pair-of perpendicular flat uprights '15", 16 having a transverse" pivot pin "Fl ""tendin'g therethrough, the lower end-sol the rights- 75 and 16" being preferably welded to "the-hitch bar a shortdistancerearwardly' of'the hitch' lugs 10; and It, acts": Intermediate the upper portions or end-sot lugs 23 upon-'tnefront end 'I of platform It and the upper ends of uprights I5- an I6 are mounted a pair of toggle systems above" each side'of hitch bar 69. Thus, as viewed in Figures '7 to 10, upon the near side are pivotally connected a pair of toggle links I8,

one of the intermediate lugs 23,- while a corresponding-,pairof toggle blocks- 80,- 8I are pivotally mounted with the studs 82, 89 thereof extendingthrough the forward ends of the. mentioned links 10, I9. 'Upon thesame studs 82,283 are pivotally mounted a pail' 'of forwardly/ directed toggle'linkstl, 85, whi1e cotter pins 86, ,SI erVe to retain both setsof' links 18, 19, 84, '85 in assembled positions ontlre mentioned-studs. At their forward ends, the last mentioned two I i links 84 and 85 are'pivotallycorinected tonne of the neafuprights I5 by meahs' of previouslymentioned transverse pins 11 and retained in place by cotter pin 88. In similar fashion, to the connections of links I8, I9, 84, 85, a duplicate system of links 89, 90, 9|, 92 are mounted upon the opposite studs 93, 94 on the far sides of toggle blocks 80, 8|, the rear ends of links 89, 90 being mounted upon opposite sides of the other of the two intermediate lugs 23 on mentioned pin 21 with a spacing tube or bushing '95 mounted on pin 21 between links 19 and 89. Upon the opposite sides of the far upright I6 are mounted the forward ends of links 9!, 92 on pin I! with a spacing tube or bushing 96 disposed on pin 11 between links 84 and 9|. In order to maintain the true forward direction of hitch bar 69 in line with the direction of travel of the tractor, a pair of rearwardlydiverging brace bars 91, 98 are preferably welded or brazed at 99' on both sides of bar 69, and at the lower junctions of uprights 15, while the rearward ends 99 and I00 of the diverging braces 91 and 98 are disposed between the two pairs of lugs 22, 22 at each side of the forward end of platform I6 and each end 99 and I00 having a pin 24 extending therethrough to couple the same pivotally to lugs 22, these pins being substantially in line with the previously-described lower pin 26 connecting hitch bar 69 to lugs 23.

Threaded through an internally-threaded hole in upper toggle block 9! is a manually-operated feed screw 20% provided with a hand wheel I02 bywhich to manipulate it, the lower end of the 70 block 00 and having a reduced end I03 extending rotatably through blocktil and having a nut I04 screwed on a threaded end upon reduced portion I03 to retain the feed screw IOI assembled with jaucwingthe feed screw to be rotated-in such fashion as to" raise or lower upper toggle block '81! 'wi th-'respect'- to lower toggle block according 19, and 89', 9| from links 18', 8 4 andllfl 92 in suchfashion to'shorten the distance between pivot center- 2? and pivot center TI. Due to the {factthat the intermediate lugs 23 are rigid with the forward end of platform I6, such shortening of the distance will cause uprights I5, 76- and hitch bar 69 with its braces 91, 98 to be drawn upward counter-clockwiseabout pins 24, 26, so

that bitch bar 69* will assume an upwardly-iri- 'olined position-toward-the right; Such adj-u's-tment allows platformit of the liftapparatus to be lowered, and'in fact, when the'latterislowere'd to contact with the ground, further adjustment of the'f'eedscrew i0 I will allowthe platform to remain flat on the ground-in horizontal position,

while hitch bar 69 still remains connected both to the platformat the rear end thereof andto'the hitch member 74 onthe tractor through the pivoted ring or loop-I2. When the pIatfOrmi's again to be raised-after being properly loaded, the hydraulic systems of the platform are operated to raiseit, while hand wheel I02 is rotated counterbetween-the pins 21 and I1 and thus allowhitch bar 89- with its braces 91', 98 tolowr'to horizontal position which virtually amounts to raisingthe rearend 99; I'Gllof both braces andthe'rear end of the hitch bar to correspond to the raised position of elevating platform I8, with the result that hitch bar 69 and'platform I6 are brought virtually in line to assume horizontal aligned positions.

A modification of the hydraulic system and platform of Figures 1 to 6 is shown in Figures 11 and 2, wherein the platform is provided with upright posts I06 and rearwardly-inclined braces I01, while to the platform immediately below uprights or posts I06 are pivoted arms I08 by pivots I09, the other ends of arms I08 carrying stud shafts IIO for wheels III, the same ends of arms I08 being provided with upwardly-extending rigid short arms II2 to which are pivotally connected a pair of hydraulic pistons or plungers H3 extending reciprocably into hydraulic cylinders I I4 connected by flexible tubes II5 to a hydraulic pump and provided with rigid lugs IIB pivotally connected by pivots I IT to the upper ends of posts or uprights I06. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the interior of hydraulic cylinders I It, pistons H3 are projected therefrom so that beginning with the position of platform I05 substantially on the ground for loading, the pistons will be projected as shown best in Figure 12 in such fashion as to rotate arms I08 clockwise and thereby raise platform I05 into transporting position.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described our invention, we claim:

1. A tractor trailer adapted to be hitched to a tractor including a lift platform, a horizontally disposed shaft fixedly secured transversely of said lift platform intermediate its ends and having its opposed ends projecting from the sides of said platform, a first pair of arms having one end pivotally connected to the adjacent projecting end of said shaft, a first pair of stubshafts arranged in spaced relation with respect to said first named shaft and spaced from each other,

said pair of stubshafts each having one endfixedly secured to the other end of each of said arms, a

' second pair of arms having one end pivotally connected to the other projecting end of said first named shaft, a second pair of stubshafts arranged in spaced relation with respect to said first named shaft and spaced from each other, said second named pair of stubshafts each having .oneend fixedly secured to the other end of each of said second named arms, a wheel rotatably mounted on the other end of each of said first and second namedstubshafts, and hydraulic means interposed between each of said first and second named pairs of stubshafts and operatively connected thereto for effecting movement of the stubshafts 70f each of said pairs of stubshafts toward and away from each other.

2. A tractor trailer adapted to be hitched to a tractor including a lift platform, a horizontally disposed shaft fixedly secured transversely of said lift platform intermediate its ends and having its opposed ends projecting from the sides of said platform, a first pair of arms having one end pivotally connected to the adjacent projecting-end of said shaft, a first pair of stubshafts arranged in spaced relation with respect to said first named shaft and spaced from each other, said pair of stubshafts each having one end fixedly secured to the other end of each of said arms, a second pair of arms having one end pivotally connected to the other projecting end of said first named shaft, a second pairof stubshafts arranged in spaced relation with respect to said first named shaft and spaced from eachother, said second named pair of stubshafts-each having one end fixedly secured to the other end of each of said second named arms, a wheel rotatably mounted on the other end of each of said first and second named stubshafts, and hydraulic means interposed between each of said first and second named pairs of stubshafts and operatively connected thereto for effecting movement of the stubshafts of each of said pairs REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1, 05,228 Wickey July 28, 1914 1,633,473 Bush June 21, 1927 2,002,605 Kincaid May 28, 1935 2,196,338 McDaniel Apr. 9, 1940 2,227,762 Ronning Jan. 7, 1941 2,297,992 Swim Oct. 6, 1942 2,328,343 2 Jacob Aug. 31, 1943 2,335,253 Black Sept. 18, 1945 2,411,009 Slimp Nov. 12, 1946 

